Student Volunteer Sertes, No. 3. | 
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— 


The “Volunteer Pledge. 








Pies PEE DGE 


OF THE 


STUDENT VOLUNTEER 


MOVEMENT FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. 


BY 


ROBERT P. WILDER. 


Fune, 1890. 





Ue dS. ed 8 oy BYE 4 a 
OF 
THE STUDENT VOLUNTEER MOVE- 


MENT FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS. 


I. THE NECESSITY FOR A PLEDGE. 
I. To secure dectsions. 


“Man, of all luggage, is the hardest to 
move.” ‘To show a man his sinfulness is 
comparatively easy ; to move him to act is 
the most difficult part of evangelistic work. 
The head heeds the admonition ; the heart 
postpones assent. Hundreds of gospel ser- 
mons have fallen short of their object be- 
cause decision was not urged; hence the 
importance of inquiry meetings and “after 
meetings,” where fishers for men pull in the 
net which was previously lowered for a 
draught. The Apostle Paul urges immediate 
decision even upon one who was about to 
commit suicide, and the Philippian jailer 
‘‘was baptized, he and all his, stvaightway.” 

The principle of decision is operative in 
successful work among Christians. One 
speaker impresses upon his audience the 
importance of Bible study, but presents no 
plan, and pleads for no decisions ; the other se- 
cures pledges and organizes a class. ‘When 
the nail of conviction is driven in, he clinches 


6 


it with a practical twist.” Should not the 
same plan be pursued in missionary meetings 
to secure prayer, money, and men? General 
appeals for prayer do good. But is not more 
accomplished by organizing prayer groups, 
whose members are pledged to pray for 
definite objects, designating the fields and 
laborers? In securing money for missions, 
many workers adopt the same plan. When 
hearts heed their appeals and are eager to 
aid, then they name a definite object and 
elicit contributions. Here again a pledge is 
helpful: it registers decisions, strengthens de- 
terminations, and conserves interest. Why 
not employ the same method in securing men 
to man missionary stations? For years stu- 
dents had been stirred by strong speakers. 
The addresses were powerful, the needs 
urgent, the command clear. Seldom was 
decision urged. In my college days much 
was read and said about missions, but little 
with reference to deciding to go. We recog- 
nized the needs, but did not make a personal 
application of them to ourselves. It was 
assumed that the time to decide was when 
we neared the completion of our professional 
-courses of study. So college men drifted 
away from missions ; for the popular current 
is away from foreign missions. 


7 


About three years ago it was stated that 
out of every dollar raised for Christian work 
in the United States ninety-eight cents remain 
at home; out of every hundred thousand 
communicants only twenty-one go abroad. 
“In drawing a map of Europe, I may out- 
line Russia, for example, with geographical 
nicety, respecting conscientiously its longi- 
tudinal and latitudinal dimensions, and then 
go on, but with a different scale, to do the 
same thing for Germany, England, and the 
rest of the Continent. However accurate 
my delineation of each country may have 
been, my map of Europe as a whole will be 
vitiated by that fatal alteration of scale.” 
Relative to the world’s evangelization, Africa 
and Asia, in the popular mind, are drawn on 
the same scale; but the United States is 
magnified out of all proportion, even five 
hundred times; for, proportionately, there are 
five hundred times as many ministers in the 
United States as ordained missionaries in 
foreign fields. Our map of the world is 
vitiated by this fatal alteration of scale. 

Facts show that though “God is no re- 
specter of persons,” though the African has 
as much of a claim on the gospel as the | 
American, nevertheless the popular current is 
against foreign missions. Men do not drift 


8 


into foreign work, the drift is the other way. 
If recruits are to be secured for this work, 
they must be brought face to face with de- 
ciston — with the question, Why not go? A 
pledge presents this question in definite form ; 
it makes the matter of decision tangible. 


2. To secure decisions early in the course 
of study. 

What are the advantages of an early de- 
cision? Men’s minds are thus made up be- 
fore prejudiced by other, and what may 
appear to some, as more inviting spheres of 
work. If laymen are to be secured for for- 
eign service, their decisions must be reached 
while undergraduates in college; otherwise 
they may select some occupation calculated 
to keep them in the United States. It is 
well also for prospective divinity students to 
decide early, before the pressure of a “ good 
call” to a city church warps their judgments. 

An early decision allows more time for 
preparation. This is an age of specialists. 
To succeed in anything a man must concen- 
trate time and study on that one thing. The 
man who goes to a strange land and stranger 
people should be trained in the religions, 
customs, literature, and peculiarities of those 
among whom his life is to be spent. The 


9 


student who decides in his freshman year can 
devote the remaining years in college and 
the three years of theology and medicine to 
a prayerful study of the foreign field. Has 
not such a man an advantage over one whose 
decision is not reached until the senior year 
in his professional course, and who can give 
but a few weeks to personal study and prepa- 
ration for foreign service ? 

A pledged man can appeal more effectively 
for money and men: he says, “Come”; 
professors and pastors say, “Go.” One of 
the volunteers secured, in six weeks’ cam- 
paign, pledges for five thousand dollars. Men 
were moved because the appeals came from 
a heart given to foreign work. The speaker 
had pledged his life: the hearers felt con- 
strained to give at least their money. An- 
other volunteer secured, in three months, a 
hundred recruits. Many of these had been 
unmoved by more rhetorical appeals of abler 
men, who had not given their lives to the 
work of foreign missions. This volunteer 
writes that he may have done more for 
foreign missions in those three months than 
he can ever accomplish on foreign soil. If 
the hundred prove to be as good laborers as 
he, his life will be multiplied a hundredfold. 
Had he remained undecided until the time 


IO 


of sailing, the above results would have been 
impossible. In his work, this volunteer found 
a pledge indispensable. 

Let a number of students decide early: 
let them, during their collegiate, medical, and 
theological courses of study, enlist men and 
money for foreign service,—and the problem 
of the world’s evangelization will soon be 
solved. But experience proves the inade- 
quacy of previous methods. ‘To secure such 
an uprising a pledge is necessary. Before the 
‘Pledge was inaugurated but few college men 
were deciding to become foreign missionaries. 
From the records of the college Young 
Men’s Christian Association we learn that, 
“In 1885, the number of persons reported 
who intended to be foreign missionaries was 
187, an average of 3 in each of the 65 in- 
stitutions reporting. In 1886, 126 were re- 
ported by 59 institutions, an average of only 
2. ‘This was before the inception of the Stu- 
dent Volunteer Movement. In 1887, after 
the movement had been in progress but eight 
months, 109 institutions reported 943, an 
average of nearly 9.” 


3. Lo confirm those who have decided. 


Sowing seed is not sufficient ; weeding and 
watering are necessary. Gaining converts is 


it 


not enough ; hence the Apostle Paul ‘“ went 
over the country of Galatia and Phrygia in 
order, strengthening all the disciples.”” When 
Messrs. C. T. Studd and Stanley P. Smith 
appealed to British students, hundreds were 
moved, and scores signified a purpose to be- 
come foreign missionaries. Such eloquent 
scriptural appeals from consecrated hearts 
were irresistible. This beginning promised a 
mighty movement. A resident of England, 
conversant with missionary matters, writes 
recently that this uprising “has ‘no perma- 
nent representation to-day in England, as far 
as I know.’ Why was not the work of the 
“Cambridge Band” followed up and con- 
served? Doubtless the necessity of some 
declaration or pledge was not suggested to 
the leaders. Such an uprising on either side 
of the Atlantic cannot be conserved without 
securing the names of those who need 
strengthening. Of what avail would the 
‘names be unless the names of men who have 
~ decided on some course of action? Hence 
the necessity for a pledge. 

In short, but for the Pledge, could there 
be a Student Volunteer Movement for For- 
eign Missions? Volunteers for what? How 
differentiated from other Christians? The 
bond which binds together these five thou- 


I2 


sand recruits is the Pledge; but for it the 
Movement would be meaningless. 


Il. WHAT SHALL THE PLEDGE BE? 


Thus far we have considered the necessity 
for some pledge as a s¢ne gua non for the ex- 
istence of the Student Volunteer Movement 
for Foreign Missions. Now arises the ques- 
tion, ‘What shall this pledge be?’’ Here two 
classes confront us: the one conservative ; 
the other radical. 

1. The former say that the field is the 
world: no Christian should bind himself to 
work only in America; nor is he justified 
in promising to labor anywhere except in 
America, since America is a part of the 
world. ‘There must be no exceptions in our 
world-wide consecration; there must be no 
line of demarkation between the home and 
foreign fields: the field is one. Hence they 
say, Let the pledge read, ‘‘ We are willing to 
go anywhere for Christ.” 

There are several objections to such a 
pledge. First: It would be meaningless. 
Every Christian should sign it; for a willing- 
ness to go anywhere is a badge of disciple- 
ship. ‘So, likewise, whosoever he be of you 
that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot 
be my disciple.” Secondly: Such a pledge 


nS 


would be equivalent to that taken when unit- 
ing with the church. We then promised to 
surrender all to Christ. What occasion for 
another pledge covering the same or less 
ground than the church pledge? Would not 
such a pledge reflect on the efficacy of the 
church pledge, or the honesty of him who 
has united with the church? TZhirdly: This 
pledge, though theoretically placing the for- 
eign fields on a par with the home fields, 
practically leaves the advantage on the home 
side, for lack of decision to go means stay. 
As long as the children of Israel lacked de- 
cision to leave Egypt, so long they remained 
in the land of bondage. Such indecision is 
not neutral: “possession is nine-tenths of the 
law.” Egypt possesses them. Indecision in 
the wilderness is neutral, for they are now 
between Egypt and Canaan. So, if we were 
half way distant between America and Africa, 
indecision as to laboring in either land would 
be fair; for a lack of decision to go to 
Africa would not be equivalent to remaining 
in America. 

Thus far we have assumed an absence of 
bias. We have taken it for granted that the 
man undecided as to his field for work is un- 
prejudiced ; he has no preferences ; he is as- 
willing to labor in Africa as America. Un- 


14 


fortunately such men are rare. Consciously 
or unconsciously, patriotism, home ties, and a 
pleasant environment attract ; a land of aliens, 
the dread of loneliness, and uncongenial sur- 
roundings repel. Does not this account for 
the fact that nine-tenths of our money, men, 
and prayers are centered on one twenty-sixth 
of the world’s population? Does this not 
explain why two-thirds of our race know 
nothing of Christ? ‘The heathen labor under 
the disadvantage of distance and degradation. 
A penny placed close to the eye may hide 
the sun. A home parish selfishly close to 
the heart may hide the heathen from our 
spiritual vision. One instinctively prefers the 
cultured to cannibals. Hence, the insuff- 
ciency of a pledge simply signifying to go or 
stay. We need a pledge voicing Paul’s pur- 
pose ‘‘to preach the gospel in the regions 
beyond,” and “ not to boast in another man’s 
line of things made ready to our hand”; a 
pledge to press into places “ not where Christ 
was named,” lest we ‘should build upon an- 
other man’s foundation.” 

2. The other class suggests an iron-clad 
pledge whose signers must enter foreign 
service whether or no. They would lay a 
track to foreign lands along which there are 
no switches to be opened by prayer or Provi- 


ro 
dence. They desire a pledge so strong that 
none can break it. 

There are three objections to this pledge. 
First: The strongest pledge cannot hold all 
the signers. In every enterprise we find men 
who say “I go sir, and went not.” ‘The mar- 
riage pledge is broken by many. Did not 
Israel violate solemn vows of allegiance to 
Jehovah? What does the word “ backslider ” 
signify but a broken church pledge? Sec- 
ondly: Such a pledge would not secure the 
signatures of sensitive Christians who shrink 
from a severe pledge. Thirdly: Such a 
pledge would be unscriptural. ‘Go to now, 
ye that say, to-day or to-morrow we will go 
into such a city,... whereas ye know not 
what shall be on the morrow. For that ye 
ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, 
and do this or that.” 

The safe course lies between this Scylla 
and Charybdis. The Pledge of the Student 
Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions 
avoids either extreme; for it means more 
than a willingness to go anywhere, it signifies 
a purpose to enter foreign service. On the 
other hand, men, by signing it, do not take 
their lives into their own control: the signers 
are still under God’s direction ; they will not 
become foreign missionaries unless He permit. 


16 


II. THE MEANING OF THE PLEDGE. 


The Pledge of the Student Volunteer Move- 
ment for Foreign Missions reads as follows: 
“We are willing and desirous, God permtt- 
ting, to become foreign missionaries.” God 
permitting, not God willing. ‘To permit 
means ‘not to prohibit or prevent’; to will 
means “to decide, to determine, to decree.” 
The former places the burden of proof on 
the signer; the latter on God. The former 
signifies our purpose to go abroad unless God 
prevent ; the latter our purpose to go abroad 
if God approve. In the latter case, we pro- 
fess ignorance concerning His will: He may 
want us to go, He may wish us to stay. ‘The 
signers of the former will go to the front un- 
less detailed by the captain for service in the 
rear; the latter are not satisfied with the 
general command to move forward ; they re- 
main in their intrenchments; they will not 
move until the commander make known his 
will in a special manner to each private. 
The difference between the two is as great as 
that between motion and rest. The former 
go unless stopped; the latter stay unless 
spurred on. 

The pledge means, We are fully determined 
to become foreign missionaries unless God 
block the way. 


17 


Those who sign it signify that the presump- 
tion is in favor of foreign missions. ~ They 
place the burden of proof on America. 
They throw open the throttle-valve and 
steam out on the main track of the greatest 
need, believing that God will switch them off 
on a side track if he wants them in less needy 
fields. ‘They press into the province of Asia 
until “‘ forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach 
the word in Asia.”” After coming into Mysia 
they essay to go into Bithynia, till the Spirit 
suffer them not. Then they pass, like Paul, 
into other lands, going “not to those who 
need them, but to those who need them 
most.” 

What does renouncing the Pledge mean? 
It cannot be applied to those who are provi- 
dentially prevented from becoming foreign 
missionaries. If God does not permit their 
going, they are exempt, for the Pledge reads, 
“We are willing and desirous, God permit- 
ting,” etc. It should be applied to those 
who, though having no valid excuse for re- 
maining in America, have renounced all 
thoughts of becoming foreign missionaries. 

What is a valid excuse? ‘This must be 
settled by each volunteer with God. But if 
after prayer he be convinced of his unfitness 
to go, he owes it to himself and to the Stu- 


18 


dent Volunteer Movement for Foreign Mis- 
sions that this unfitness be demonstrated ; 
otherwise, he will be regarded as one who 
‘“‘having put his hand to the plough,” has 
looked back. To avoid the appearance of 
evil, he should apply to the board of foreign 
missions of some evangelical denomination. 
The examination of candidates by these 
boards is most thorough. One unqualified 
for the work rarely, if ever,. passes muster, 
since the requirements are most rigid. ‘The 
candidate need not fear confiding in the sec- 
retaries, who can appreciate heart as well as 
head difficulties. If, after squarely facing 
the issue, the board reject him, he is exempt 
before our Movement, since the Student Vol- 
unteer Movement for Foreign Missions co- 
operates with the missionary societies, and 
abides by their decision. But such exemp- 
tion by no means proves that he is exempt 
before God. Missionary organizations are 
fallible. One of Africa’s best missionaries 
was rejected by three boards. Like William 
Carey, he felt, ““Go I must, or guilt will rest 
on my soul,” 

As long as a volunteer purposes applying 
eventually to some foreign missionary board, 
we keep his name on our list; but if he has 
not applied to any society, and does not in- 


9 


tend to do so, we must regard him as no 
longer a volunteer. We must erase his 
name, lest by continuing in our ranks he 
imperil the steadfastness of others. ‘ What 
man is fearful and faint hearted? Let him 
go and return unto his house, lest his breth- 
ren’s heart faint as well as his heart.” 


IV. USE OF THE PLEDGE. 


The following suggestions may be of service 
to volunteers engaged in addressing churches 
and institutions of learning : — 


1. In theological seminaries, pass the 
Pledge for signatures in the main meeting, 
since the audience is composed of Chris- 
tians. 


2. In colleges, at the close of the address, 
invite all especially interested in foreign work 
to remain for a brief consecration service. 
In this after meeting the Pledge may be cir- 
culated. 


3. In preparatory schools and churches, 
experience has shown that it is not advisable 
to circulate the Pledge in the main meeting. 
Invite all whose hearts are specially touched 
to tarry for a service of prayer. During this 
after service, press home the importance of 
decision, and so explain the Pledge that none 


20 


can mistake its meaning. But do not pass 
the Pledge: remember that those before you 
are young; their minds are immature and 
undisciplined. Adopt an additional precau- 
tion: ask those fully decided upon foreign 
work to tarry at the close of this after meet- 
ing. Be much in prayer for these young 
recruits. Again explain to each, individually, 
the solemn import of the step to be taken. 
If, after personal probing, you are convinced 
of their sincerity, allow them to sign. But 
do not rebuff even the youngest, since some 
of our best missionaries decided on foreign 
work while preparatory students. | 

The following cautions should be observed. 
first: After explaining the Pledge, always 
allow an opportunity for questions. These 
will draw out a fuller explanation and clear 
up any misapprehension. Secondly: Never 
use the Pledge without prayer. 


V. WHO SHALL USE THE PLEDGE? 


_ We have seen that a wrong or imperfect 
interpretation of the Pledge may do damage 
to the Movement; hence, great care should 
be exercised in selecting right men to use it. 

1. It is to be used by all officially con- 
nected with the Student Volunteer Movement 
for Foreign Missions. 


21 


2. By the leaders of bands of volunteers. 
After being instructed in its use by the field 
secretary or corresponding member, all volun- 
teers should be urged to do personal work ; 
but when, as a result of such work, a recruit 
is secured, he should not be allowed to sign 
until the leader of the band be convinced 
that he thoroughly understands the Pledge.* 


3. The Pledge may be used by carefully 
selected and competent men expecting to 
address ‘churches or institutions. These 
workers should watch the field secretary in 
his use of the Pledge. They should also 
avail themselves of valuable suggestions given 
at summer schools for Bible study. 

The Pledge cannot be handled too carefully: 
It is the keystone to the arch of the Student 
Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions. 
Urge home its importance. But do not de- 
cide the foreign missionary question for an- 
other. The world can be won for Christ, in 


* Every band should provide itself with a large, strongly 
bound book containing the Pledge. Under the Pledge» 
room should be left for the name of each volunteer, denom- 
ination, class, home address, date of signing, preferences 
as to field and method of work, etc. Space should also be 
allowed for future memoranda as to date of sailing, married 
or single, society with which he is connected, where sta- 
tioned, post office address, reports of work, years of service 
abroad, etc. Such a book will prove of great value in future 
years. 


22. 


this generation, but not by drafted troops. 
God calls for volunteers, men like Amasiah, — 
‘who willingly offered himself unto the Lord. 
and with him two hundred thousand mighty 
men of valor;” men like -Bezaleel) and 
Aholiab: “even every one whose heart 
stirred him up to come unto the work to 
do it;” men like David’s volunteers: “ For 
at that time, day by day, there came to David 
to help him, until there was a great host, like 
the host of God ;”” men who willingly ‘“jeop- 
arded their lives unto the death in high places 
of the field.’”” Ten such men are worth more 
than ten thousand drafted troops. ‘The 
stars in their courses fought’ for these volun- 
teers, and “the river of Kishon swept ’”’ their 
enemies away. “‘ Praise ye the Lord for the 
avenging of Israel, when the people willingly 
offered themselves.”” God’s church will be 
avenged when the young men of Christendom 
have ‘willingly offered themselves” for tne 
conquest of the world. Five thousand are 
already pledged. More are coming. The 
prophecy is being verified, “Thy people offer 
themselves willingly in the day of thy power: 
In the beauties of holiness, from the womb 
of the morning. ‘Thou hast the dew of thy 
youth.” 





* 

All numbers of this series may be obtained 
of WALTER J. CLARK, 50 E. 7oth St., New 
York City, at 3 cents per copy; $1.50 per hun- 
dred, prepaid. 


